Sixteen HOSA state winners competing this week at nationals

GRAVETTE — Forty-nine Gravette Health Occupations Student Ambassadors Club members traveled to Hot Springs to compete in state competition in March and 29 brought home medals. Six students who attended state for the first time brought home medals, according to club sponsor Robin Hilger. Students practice from December to February for the annual competition in March.

Students who receive gold, silver or bronze medals at state have the opportunity to compete at nationals. Sixteen Gravette state winners are compet- ing this week, June 22-25, at nationals in Nashville, Tenn.

State HOSA winners from Gravette, their areas of competition and the medals they received are:

Home health aide — Mariah Kelsheimer, gold; Kinsley Hurtt, silver; Taylor Eaton, bronze. Physical therapy — Destiny Laymon, gold. Veterinary science — Rachel Jones, gold. Life support skills — Billy Allen, gold; Nick Dawson, silver. Biomedical science — Dylan Gruver, silver; Chasen Root, bronze. Forensic medicine — Sydney King and Kaylea Turner, gold; Robin Davis

and Hunter Graham, silver. CERT — Gage Woodcock and Kevin Deady, gold; Jakoby Mulder and Matthew O’Brien, bronze.

CPR and first aid — Jaye Chalk and Kara Smith, gold; Jace Russ and Matthew O’Brien, bronze.

Dental science — Halle Webb, gold; Viridiana Martinez, silver. Nutrition — Kaitlyn Sands, bronze. Pharmacology — Nick Newbill, gold; Chloe Walker, silver. Medical math — Drew Hendren, bronze. Pathophysiology — Stephany Todd, gold. Epidemiology — Haley Dawson, gold.

Photo by Susan Holland Gravette HOSA club president-elect Hunter Graham, club president Jaye Chalk and their sponsor, Robin Hilger, attended a recent Gravette school board meeting and reported on their trip to state competition. Hunter is wearing the silver medal he earned...